Folding box.



W. H. WOOD'ARD.

FOLDING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 3,1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHBET 1.

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W. H. WOODARD FOLDING BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8,1914. v

1,182,505. Patent ed Man 16, 1,915.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

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UNITED STATES PATE T OFFICE.

WILLIAM 'H. WOODARD, OF EAST PALATKA, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD TO FRANK B. BAKER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FOLDING BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

7 Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WOODARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Palatka, in the county of Putnam and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in folding boxes, crates and the like and has for its primary object to provide an extremely simple and eflicient multiple hinge so constructed as to hingedly connect the four uprightwalls of the device to the bottom thereof.

A secondary object is to construct this hinge member in such a manner as to allow one side of the box to be folded into overlapping engagement with the opposite side thereof.

With these and minor objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel features of construction and combination herein described and claimed and shown in the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a folding box constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section; Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective showing more clearly the application of one of the hinge members to the bottom and one end wall of the box; Fig. 5 is an end view of the box in folded position; Fig. 6 is a side view with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 5.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a folding box, which comprises a rectangular bottom 1, a similarly shaped top 2, upright longitudinal side walls 3 and transverse end walls 4, said longitudinal and end walls being hingedly connected to the bottom 1 by means of my improved multiple hinge 5.

As clearly seen in the drawings, a hinge 5 is located at each end of the bottom 1 adjacent the inner surfaces of the end walls 4, said hinges including transverse rods 6 which are secured to the upper surface of the bottom 1 in any suitable manner, preferably by staples 7 having their ends clenched beneath said. bottom. Near the ends of the rods 6, the staples 7 are arranged in transversely spaced pairs, thus preventing knuckles 8, carried by the end walls 4, from shifting laterally upon said rods.

The knuckles 8 may be of any suitable construction but are preferably in the-form of fiat metal plates 9 bent into substantial L-shape in edge view, the upright portions of said members being attached to the inner sides of the end walls 4 while the horizontal portions thereof are attached to the lower edges of said end walls. As most clearly seen in Figs. 2 and 4, transverse loops 10 are formed at the junction of the upright and horizontal portions of said plates, said loops loosely encircling the portions of the rods 6 within the spaced pairs of staples 7.

One end of each rod 6 is bent upwardly in a rather short arm 11 having its upper end formed with an eye 12 while the remaining end of each of said rods is bent upwardly as shown at 13 to provide an upright arm of greater height than the arm 11, the upper end of each arm 18 being formed with an eye 14. These upright arms 11 and 13 and their eyes 12 and 14 are positioned in recesses 15 formed in the opposite end portions of the side walls 3 and opening through their lower edges. When in this position, suitable staples or other suitable fastening and pivot means 16 are driven through the eyes 12 and 14' and through said side walls. In the present case, the longer arms 13 are thus pivoted to the rear side of the box while the shorter arms 11 are pivoted to the front side thereof. It will therefore be seen that when the end walls 4 are swung downwardly as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the front wall may be folded into contact with the upper sides of said end walls, the staples 16 and the eyes 12 acting as the hinge to allow this movement On account of the fact that the arms attached to the rear side are of greater height than the arms 11, said rear side may now be folded forwardly and downwardly in which position it will rest upon what is now the upper side of the front wall. The top 2 which is hingedly connected to the rear side wall by means of links 17 overlies the remaining structure, when folded. When the box is unfolded, latch bolts 18 which are preferably of L shape and mounted in suitable guides 19 to slide transversely upon the inner surfaces of the end walls 4, are adapted to be forced outwardly into suitable sockets 20 formed in the adjacent portions of the side walls.

The upright portions 21 of the latch bolts, at the front of the box, are positioned adjacent registering notches 23 and 22 formed respectively in the upper edges of the end walls 4: and in the lower side of the cover or top 2, this provision being made in order that said latch bolts may be operated by the insertion of an appropriate tool for the purpose of allowing the same to be forced through eyes 2% which depend from the forward portion of the top 2 and are received by suitable notches which are formed in the inner sides of the end walls 4: at their front ends. It will therefore be seen that the latch bolts 18 not only prevent the end walls from swinging inwardly, until retracted, but also form efiicient means for retaining the top 2 in closed position. If desired, however, a positive lock (not shown) may be employed for the purpose of securing the cover in closed position.

As clearly seen in Fig. l the positioning of the links 17 is such as to cause the cover or top 2 to stand vertically when raised.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have produced an extremely simple device of the character described and that the means for hingedly connecting the upright walls of the box to the bottom thereof, possess numerous advantageous features since, by their construction the longitudinal side walls are effectively braced against outward movement and are also hingedly supported as above set forth.

I have described my invention as in the form of a folding box, but it will be readily understood that the structure of the locking and hinging means is equally well adapted to crates.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A collapsible box comprising a rectangular bottom, a pair of independent trans verse rods overlying the opposite ends thereof and having their two ends bent upward to provide upright standards, the extreme upper ends of the latter being formed into pivot eyes, a pair of upright end walls rising from the ends of the base and h VlIlg knuckles on their lower edges embracing the rods, whereby said walls may swing inwardly, a pair of upright inwardly foldable side walls rising from the side edges of the bottom and having recesses in their inner faces to receive the upright standards at the ends of the rods and the eyes thereon, whereby said rods are held against rotation when the sides are raised, and staples passing through said eyes into said side walls.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. lVOODARD.

lVitnesses:

ALBION HU'rorIINsoN,

W. A. WILLIAMS, J r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

